New Smyrna surfer may have suffered medical episode before death, official says

Tuesday

Apr 15, 2014 at 8:43 PMApr 15, 2014 at 10:07 PM

A 56-year-old surfer who died Tuesday may have suffered a medical episode before friends brought him to shore in New Smyrna Beach for help, a Volusia County official said.

By Katie Kusturakatie.kustura@news-jrnl.com

A 56-year-old surfer who died Tuesday may have suffered a medical episode before friends brought him to shore in New Smyrna Beach for help, a Volusia County official said.Beach Safety Ocean Rescue Capt. Tammy Marris said the surfer, a New Smyrna Beach resident whose name wasn’t relased, was sitting on his board about 6:45 p.m. Tuesday when he fell into the water.Marris said the man’s friends brought him to shore in the 600 block of North Atlantic Avenue where a lifeguard helped with resuscitation efforts.The man was taken to Bert Fish Medical Center where he died about an hour later, Marris said.The surfer had complained of chest pains earlier in the afternoon, Marris said.